Welcome to Peceptions, a place where I attempt to look at things from G-d's perspective. No...I'm not under the illusion that I know the thoughts of G-d. However, we can get a good idea from both the Word of G-d and by living a close relationship with him. It is an open forum and no moderation. Only rule: No Foul Language. Thanks again and feel free to comment.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

In every generation, since the fall of man, the earth has been the temporary dwelling place of a small group of true believers. These believers, who through faith and faith alone, spent their entire lives developing a true loving relationship with the G-d of the universe, the G-d of all creation. Placing all of their faith in this supernatural G-d, they relied completely on G-d for the salvation of their souls from the wages of sin, which is death.

Daily, they communed with the one whose existence goes beyond the restraints of our time and space. This group knew that in order to grow stronger in this life and have life after the here and now meant spending time on their knees worshipping the one and only G-d that truly deserves adoration. In dedicating themselves to and communing with G-d, they received a unique and free gift, unhindered access to the throne room of the universe and life everlasting in the presence of G-d. They are the future kings and priests of the new heaven and earth. They are the Remnant.

The Remnant knows without a shadow of a doubt, that they will spend eternity in the presence of G-d. They know that this life is but a whisper in the breath of the creator. They work for G-d, not because they have to, but because they want to. This begs the question of a lifetime. Better yet, of your lifetime.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Next, let’s first take a look at the supposed office of bishop. Man has built the office and a whole denomination out of two words, bishop, episcope, episkopos. Now let’s look at what the words actually mean.

Overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder, the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church.

Look, imagine that, an elder. A bishop is an elder. Bishop describes a characteristic of a elder. Elevating an elder above his normal position within the body of Christ goes against the word of G-d. Therefore bishop is a trumped up by man word, not an office ordained by G-d.

Head Pastor or Senior Minister.

Once again, let’s look at what the word means. Pastor????????? Wait a second, pastor isn’t in the original manuscripts. Ask any sholar what pastor means and they will tell you shepherd. OK, lets look at the scriptures, more specifically the brit hadashah or New Testament. Pastors or specifically, shepherds are the overseers of the Christian assemblies. Wow……can we say elder? Of the 18 times it appears, 16 times it refers to…………the Messiah. Imagine that. One time it’s a verb not a noun which brings us to our conclusion and the verse that has cause the body of Christ so much pain and hardship, Ephesians 4:11-12.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

First of all, let’s strip away the words that are not actually in the verse, just for clarification.

And indeed, he gave apostles, prophets and evangelists and shepherds especially teachers for the make complete the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Eph 4:11-12

Apostles, Prophets and evangelists to the Body of Christ are those with a mission external to a specific assembly of believers. Shepherds and teachers are those within a specific body with an internal mission to oversee, complete the saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ.

Elders are not those 4, 5, 6 etc men that you vote into “office”. Not to say that there aren’t some elders within that group. True elders are mature spiritual leaders, men and women. They are the ones that shepherd or pastor the flock by following the true HEAD PASTOR and shepherd and bishop of our souls, G-d.

With all that said, Yeshua foresaw the “head pastor” debacle and said this:

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

John 10:11-14

Doesn’t that sound like a whole lot of supposed “head pastors” within the Body of Christ today?

Final conclusion. The extra offices of Bishop, Head Pastor, Cardinal etc. are not biblical and should be purged out the Body of Christ.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Acts 14:22-23

When Sh’aul (Paul) and Barnabas wanted a decision concerning circumcision, who did they go to?

“… should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” Acts 15:2

Who received them?

“And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders…” Acts 15:4

Who considered this important matter?

“And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” Acts 15:6

Consistently throughout the rest of the bible, who was it that received Paul into their midst, that Paul sent letters to and Paul called into a meeting with?

Elders, Elders and Elders.

There is no doubt that the Apostles were leaders. That goes without saying. However, right there with the Apostles were the Elders.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

One the continuing problems within the Body of Christ is the establishment of a hierarchy from which men attempt to rule over the flock. They do this even though Y’shua says in Rev 2:6:

“… thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

And in Rev 2:15:

“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

Here in these two verses, we have Y’shua stating that he hates the deeds and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. But who are the Nicolaitans? Let’s look at what the word actually means as quoted from the Schofield Reference Bible.

"From Nakao, to conquer and Laos, the people or laity. There is however, no ancient authority for a sect of Nicolaitans. If the word is symbolic, it refers to the earliest form of the notion of a priestly order, or clergy, which later divided an equal brotherhood into priests and laity. What in Ephesus were deeds (Rev. 2:6) had become in Pergamos, a doctrine (Rev. 2:15)."

The Nicolaitans were and are those who divide the flock into the laity and those who rule over them with unbiblical principles and/or doctines.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

“Search the scriptures;for in them ye think ye have eternal life:and they are they which testify of me.”

John 5:39

Here Y'shua, Jesus indicates that the scriptures testify of him. Strong concordance lexicon defines testimony as, “ to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.”

Anytime the scriptures are mentioned in the B'rit Hadashah, New Testment, it is referencing the Tanakh or Old Testament.

Are there testimonies in the Tanakh, Old Testament that speaks of Y'shua?

For had ye believed Moshe, Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

John 5:46

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.

John 8:56

And he shall send Y'shua, Ha Massiach, Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moshe, Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Acts 3:20-22

"God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began”

Could this be what Jude was talking about in which he states that Enoch prophesied about the second coming of Jesus? Jude 1:14-15.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:18-19:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.For verily I say unto you,Till heaven and earth pass,one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,till all be fulfilled.”Jesus is telling us that the Old Testament will be literally fulfilled. However, is there more to the scriptures than meets the eye that will also be fulfilled?

A jot and tittle are the Hebrew equivalent of our dotting an i and the crossing of a t.

The rabbis in Israel have a quaint way of expressing this. They say

“We won't really understand the Scriptures until the Massiach comes. But when He comes, He will not only interpret the passages for us; He will interpret the very words; He will interpret the very letters; He will even interpret the spaces between the letters!”

To fully understand G-ds Word and draw close to G-d, we must dig deep, deeper than most traditions take us into the full counsel of G-d.

Monday, August 3, 2009

There are plenty of people who will say, “I don’t believe in G-d”, followed by “Show me the proof." Well….the answer to the question, "Is There Proof of G-d?", really depends on your perception. Sounds like a cop out, doesn’t it? But it’s true. How willing are you to look at evidence without giving credence to your prejudice? It’s hard. It all depends on how close you are to G-d. The closer you are to G-d, the more he reveals himself to you. In contrast, the further away, the evidence looks like a believers wild imagination.

In conclusion, we can try to show our perceptual evidence to those who don’t know G-d but chances are, they will turn a deaf ear or blind eye. In reality, we can not prove G-d to others because there is no concrete evidence. It doesn’t help when most of the evidence resides within the Word of G-d, and you can’t honestly perceive it correctly unless you have first received the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can just share what he’s done for us and let the Spirit of G-d take it from there. Keep being that lighthouse.

One of the hardest things in life, is to have a gift to give and realizing not everyone wants it.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Is it me or has people in general been getting meaner. Whether if it’s on the highway, in line at the bank, or just walking down the street, people seem to have an “I could care less about you” attitude.

When I was growing up, it seemed like people would bend over backwards to give others the right of way or lend a hand. Some say it’s just the world we live in, but I say that Satan knows his time is almost over and he’s stepped up the spiritual warfare.

As Christians, we need to start pushing back and pray harder and show Satan that we are not going take it laying down, unless the laying down is on our face before the throne of G-d. Remember, if Satans time is short, so is ours. Praise G-d.....for we are going home soon.

In the meantime, let's fight back with acts of kindness and love…..and smile. Show everyone who lives inside of you.